Chapter 53 – Bloodlust

We never made it to the hotel.

All I wanted was a hot bath to relax my over-exercised muscles and Myrnin's touch to make me forget all of my worries. Not that I was complaining. Pushing my body to the extreme had been exhilarating. I had quickly become addicted to and fed off of the endorphins crazily firing in my brain, like it was illegal contraband, until I felt like an engorged tick…Finally satiated. Ew…Now there's a mental picture. I shook my head to clear it.

Just as Myrnin was promising me an intimate evening with full disclosure of their plans, both he and Gwion spun around to face the door, their backs ramrod straight.

There was no doubt in my mind.

We were being ambushed.

And neither of them apparently expected it because both were cursing fluidly in Welsh. Time seemed to come to a screeching halt as I took inventory of our circumstances. Trystan and Dargan immediately flanked Myrnin and Gwion on either side, creating a bubble around Abby and me, as we stood in the middle of them. Abby was visibly shaking from head to toe. I wished I could comfort her; tell her everything was going to be okay, but I knew those words were a lie. We were far from okay and would probably be lucky to make it out with our lives, given Ciro's ample resources from a still unconfirmed benefactor. Gwion assumed it was Lucas, another bloodline vampire. Having spent a good bit of time with Gwion, I could not imagine anyone foolish enough to think they could defeat him.

It appeared his suspicions about Raven's loyalty were indeed accurate because she stepped through the door first. Her lithe frame and voluptuous features were a complete contradiction to the intensity of her expression. Her ebony tresses flared brazenly behind her, while her eyes raged furiously at Gwion. Shit, what had he done, for her to have a complete alteration in her behavior? Because in this moment, there was no mistaking her hatred of him.

I wished I could see Gwion's expression, but he and Myrnin stood as a protective barrier in front of me.

Too bad their efforts were not going to keep me safe, I realized ominously; when Ciro appeared at her side, and more vampires than I could count, poured through the doors behind them. I inhaled sharply. Fuck, there had to be over fifty of them. They spread out like cockroaches around us.

"This is an unusual turn of events, my dear," Gwion spoke smoothly, without a trace of concern in his voice.

"Really? What did you expect? Did you really think I would be just fine while you replaced the position I had earned with that slut?" she sneered.

The muscles in Myrnin's back rippled angrily.

I couldn't believe she just called me a slut?! That whore! Yeah, kind of a double standard, but I didn't care. I would be dead soon anyway.

Gwion replied coldly, "So that is what this is about? At what point in all of the time we were together, did I ever say I actually cared about you?"

Damn, that was harsh.

He continued relentlessly, "Did you go to Lucas and cry like a little bitch? Is that why he came after me? Gotta say, I'm surprised. I know you're not that good of a lay for him to put his life on the line. Does he even know his resources are being used to hunt me?"

She didn't answer his question. Her hands clenched into fists and her nostrils flared. Instead, she spat venomously, "You never should have played with me."

I didn't need to see Gwion's face to know he was smirking. He drawled, "You know I have no qualms over torturing a female. I enjoy it just as much as a male. So you better make damn sure they kill me. Otherwise you and I are going to play harder than you have ever played before."

I shivered at the undisguised anticipation in his voice.

Her eyes widened just slightly. She knew it wasn't an empty threat. She looked around at the throng of vampires for reassurance, confidence spilling into her features again as she snarled, "Oh, they'll kill you."

Apparently Gwion was done talking with Raven, because he turned his attention to Ciro. "So what is your take in all of this? Are you ready to die as a result of her insecurities?"

"I don't give a shit about her cause. I must say it was convenient however that you pissed her off when you did – you know, a woman scorned and all – or I would be rotting somewhere right now. So no, I'm just here for my butterfly."

I gasped.

Ciro cocked his head to the side so that he could see me behind Myrnin and purred, "There you are, Beauty. Don't hide from me…I will be seeing all of you very soon."

A stream of curses and growling released from Myrnin's chest. He lowered his stance, signaling his attack was imminent.

"Not yet, my friend," Gwion said under his breath.

Oh that's cute. Gwion thinks a matter of timing is going to change whether or not we live or die. There were angry vampires for as far as I could see; all out for our blood. I highly doubted the option of living was going to be on our agenda for today.

Apparently, Raven was done talking because she breathed the order, "Kill them."

All hell broke loose as we were attacked from all sides. The four of them did not waver in their defense of Abigail and me, as they maintained the protective barrier around us.

But I was restless.

I wanted to fight.

Bloodlust raged through me.

Suddenly, I heard the unmistakable sound of multiple dart guns being fired. My mouth went dry as dread filled me. I was certain one or more of them had to have been hit. I just prayed that we had depleted most of their chemical warfare, during our earlier altercations.

Without warning, I saw Myrnin drop to his knee.

My blood ran cold.

And Amelie's powers roared to life.

A red haze invaded my vision, but I saw everything crystal clearly. I sprang forward, flipping over Myrnin's head, catching the vampire immediately in front of him, around the neck with my legs. While still in midair, I twisted my body violently to throw him down to the ground. He landed hard. And faster than I could track, Myrnin crashed his fist through the vampire's chest, relieving him of his heart.

I was in the middle of the fight now, but I didn't care. Given Ciro's psychotic fixation, I was certain there was a no kill order on me. He wanted me very much alive. And there were too many bodies for someone to easily shoot me.

As expected, the vampires hesitated when they realized it was me. I stole every advantage given to me by their delay, spinning my body in all angles to swipe them off their feet. As soon as I had one laid out, Myrnin or Gwion would extract their heart or wrench their neck, effectively removing their head from their bodies.

I was drenched in blood. The scene around me looked like a horror flick. I was hugely thankful that Amelie's ruthless fury was running through my veins, because I knew I couldn't handle this level of devastation on my own. As it was, I had no idea how I was going to handle the memory of today once it was over and I was back in my right mind. Of course, I was basing my concern on the unlikely speculation that I would live to see tomorrow.

Body parts were piling up, so much so, that I found myself hurling their bits and pieces to the outskirts of the mob, to make room for more. And more kept coming.

Gwion had to have been hit, I just didn't know how many times, because he was unmistakably slower in his responses. Adrenaline rocked through my body when I saw one of the vampires manage to get his hands around Gwion's head. Gwion's arms were busy fighting off two other vampires.

I didn't think.

I hurtled through the air, clearing over top of the vampire in my way, to reach him. Using the momentum I had gained, my fingers touched on the vampire's head and I continued to spin at an incredible velocity. When I landed, I held his now body-less head in my hands. I shuddered hard from head to toe. I turned to get back into position, thankful that Gwion was in control again. He glanced up at me, making eye contact for the tiniest part of a second and breathed, "Fuck."

Before I could get back in between Myrnin and Gwion, a high-pitched scream caught my attention – Abby!

Somehow she had been extracted from their protective cocoon. I snapped my head to the side just in time to see a vampire throw her into the arms of Ciro!

Oh, fuck no!

I heard Trystan howl like a wounded animal. He knew she was gone. But he didn't move from his defensive position. He couldn't. If they broke formation now, they would all be vulnerable.

But I could...

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Okay, so I made it past the block and we are now on track. Of course, that means we are headed toward the end, which makes me crazy sad. I wonder if that was why I was so blocked. sigh. The story stays hella-crazy from here to the finish.

I would LOVE to hear from you. Little Review box below...

PS - Look for the sequel All The King's Men after this story wraps up.

PSS - The next chapter is done. My plan is to wait a week and post it on Friday, but I wanted to give you guys the same option as before. If there happen to be five reviews before then, I will post it immediately. Much love - T

Answer to the questions in the reviews:

I love all of my guest reviewers and definitely would never tell someone to 'limit' their reviews. However, it would also make me super happy to see a variety of people responding, if you guys are so inclined.

There are at least four chapters left, probably five, and maybe six (two of which are already written).